A retrospective evaluation of 259 single-tooth replacements by the use of Branemark implants

Purpose: The main purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinical outcome of the treatment with 259 consecutively placed Branemark system implant-supported single crowns. Materials and Methods: There were 259 implants placed in 183 patients with a mean age of 29.8 years; 230 (89%) were placed in the maxilla and 29 (11%) were placed in the mandible. Of the prosthetic restorations, 165 were all-ceramic (68%), 79 were metal-ceramic (31%), and 4 were gold-acrylic (1%). The observation period ranged from 1 to 9 years. Results: A total of 9 patients (10 implants) was lost to follow-up. There were 3 implant failures registered, one before loading and one during the first year in function; one implant fractured after 6 years in service, giving a cumulative success rate for implants of 98.3%. A total of 8 crowns was remade following prosthetic complications; otherwise, the frequency of adverse events was low. The bone loss was of the same magnitude as in other studies on Branemark implants as support for single crowns. In general, the soft tissue conditions around the restorations were healthy and comparable to those of the patients' natural teeth. Conclusion: This study confirms the favorable results presented in other studies on Branemark implants to support single-tooth restorations.